Future Students:

Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action

Francis Marion University is dedicated to equal opportunity through affirmative action within the University community. The University's affirmative action program is designed to provide equal consideration of all applicants for faculty and staff positions, for all faculty members in the tenure and promotion process, and for administrators and other staff members seeking promotions and upgrades, as well as for students seeking admission, financial aid, and equality in academic and athletic programs.

It is the policy of Francis Marion University to recruit, hire, train, and promote employees without discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, physical disability or age. Furthermore, it is our policy to implement affirmative action to prevent any disparate effects of discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, handicapping condition, sex or age. It is the position of the University to endorse fully an appropriate section deemed necessary to eliminate any past vestiges of prior segregation and in this regard to adopt specific goals toward this end if warranted. This policy applies to all levels and phases of personnel administration, including, but not limited to, recruitment or recruitment advertising, testing, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, leave practice, layoffs, recall from layoffs, rates of pay, selection for supervisory positions, and educational, social or recreational programs of this agency. Furthermore, all officials and employees of this agency, as well as employment agencies, labor organizations and advertising agencies with whom this agency deals for purposes of recruitment of employees, will be informed that Francis Marion University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

The University has developed an affirmative action plan to help us achieve our goal of equal employment opportunity for all. The Affirmative Action Officer is delegated by the President to have the overall responsibility to ensure compliance of the University’s affirmative action plan; including the development of specific goals and timetables and is responsible for reporting progress to the President. In addition, the Affirmative Action Officer also has the overall responsibility to ascertain that a concerted effort is maintained to assure the achievement of goals and interim benchmarks. The Affirmative Action Program will remain in effect until such goals are achieved, and we anticipate the full cooperation of all managers, supervisors, and other employees in this program.

As an institution dedicated to teaching, research, and public service, Francis Marion University strives to provide its faculty and staff members with the most rewarding and fulfilling employment experience possible. This goal, however, cannot be a reality unless each employee can work and achieve to the full extent of his or her capabilities, unencumbered by artificial or preferential restriction or requirements.

Whereas an affirmative and vigorous program to assure fair and impartial treatment is in the best interest of the University, this administration is committed to the principle of affirmative action to promote equal employment and educational opportunities, a principle embodied in federal law and set out in the University's Affirmative Action Plan.

In adhering to the principle of equal opportunity, the University recruits, hires, trains, promotes, and compensates employees in all job classifications solely on the basis of qualifications and productivity. No employee or prospective employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap, or veteran status.

This policy is applied equally to all employees of the University and to all functions of the University, including the selection of contracts and suppliers of goods and services.

Ms. Demetra Pearson, Technical Services Librarian, serves as the Affirmative Action Officer. Her office is located in the Rogers Library--telephone extension number 1308.

Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration, should be contacted with any inquiries regarding discrimination, harassment, or retaliatory behavior concerning prior claims. Her office is located in the J. Howard Stokes Administration Building, Room 105--telephone extension number 1114.

FMU Non-Discrimination Policy
Francis Marion University follows all federal and state laws banning discrimination in public institutions of higher learning. Francis Marion adheres to all Title IX policies, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law. General questions regarding Title IX can be directed to the Office of Civil Rights (www.ed.gov/ocr). Specific questions may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator (titleixcoordinator@fmarion.edu). (Adopted June 23, 2015)